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A Greener Burlingame

Task force proposes bold plan for a greener Burlingame (by Mike Rosenberg, The Examiner)

BURLINGAME (Map, News) – An ambitious proposal by a powerful Burlingame group of city officials and environmentalists could push the city to provide residents with a city-owned car sharing service to pay for solar panel installations and lobby grocers to buy locally grown food.
The 12-member Green Ribbon Task Force, including elected officials such as council members Terry Nagel and Cathy Baylock, city staffers and local environmentalists, released a slew of environmental initiatives recently that it wants implemented this year by such government bodies as the City Council and Planning Commission. The task force also includes planning commissioners Stan Vistica and Michael Brownrigg, and city staff member Gordon Gottsche. The group plans to add members of the building and planning departments.
We have a voice in City Hall and on these commissions,? said task force member Mike Kerwin, a certified green builder. We've got a group of people who can get this done.?The team is looking to mimic a program from the city of Berkeley in which the city would pay for home solar panels. The city would purchase bonds, which residents would pay back over 20 years at a cheaper interest rate via property owner's taxes if they chose to install solar panels. If Berkeley's plan proves unsuccessful, the task force will turn to a more modest goal of signing up 100 residents for a group discount on home solar panels, Kerwin said.
Another goal of the task force is to improve local transportation. The team is working on a city car-share program similar to the Zipcar service in San Francisco, said task force member Pat Gray.
The task force is also trying to outlaw upward pouring? sprinklers, the automatically timed devices that pop up from lawns. The sprinklers' water rarely reach the lawn's roots and are a major waste of water, the group claims.
To alleviate ongoing issues with city flooding caused by its aging storm drain system, the task force wants to implement several green building codes. Members are lobbying for all hard walkways in the city, such as driveways and sidewalks, to be pervious so that less water goes into the storm drain system, Kerwin said.
City's green plans
Price cuts to residents who want solar panels
Locally grown and sustainable foods
City car-share program
Pervious concrete for new surfaces
Outlawing upward pouring? sprinklers
New shuttle system
Increase hotels' recycling
Reduction in number of cars parked on streets
Separated bike paths
Change recycling pickup from biweekly to weekly
Encourage kids to walk or ride bikes to school
Source: Green Ribbon Task Force

– Written by Fiona

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22 responses to “A Greener Burlingame”

  1. guardian

    ***Is one Green Task Force member using his role to TAKE “Green” $$$ from Burlingame?***
    According to the next article, Enough is Never Enough, Burlingame is being sued over sewage and Baykeeper “wants to prioritize how Burlingame spends it’s money.” Kerwin, part of BURLINGAME’s Green Task Force, is also the skipper who patrols the bay on behalf of Baykeeper. What can we expect…lawsuits against Burlingame and personal agendas! Thanks for the lawsuit Mike Kerwin. Glad to have you serving our fine city so well.

  2. guest

    Our city council needs to look into this immediately. If true, this is absolutely disgusting . Who is this clown?

  3. I live here

    WHO is Mike Kerwin? Why does he state that Burlingame needs to be more like Berkeley? I dont want that. Please dont follow him. He seems to be unaware that we already are a green city by virtue of all our tall trees, and that studies show tall trees cut down energy needed to heat homes in cold wind, and cut down on energy needed to cool them during the summer. The savings are as high as 50%! With ugly new solar panels on rooftops, neighbors will be forced by california law to CUT DOWN THEIR TREES -IS THIS THE GREEN YOU WANT MIKE?? GO BACK TO BERSERKELY!!

  4. Anonymous

    Mike Kerwin is:
    —Baykeeper skipper who patrols the bay. In HIS words, Baykeeper is better described as “a lawyer on a boat.”
    http://loraxdevelopment.com/news_sfchron_oilspill.htm
    and http://www.sfgate.com/…

    Baykeeper, with Mike at the helm, is now bullying Burlingame to spend our city’s limited resources as they see fit.

    —Green Ribbon Task Force member, who in HIS words “has a voice in City Hall and on these commissions.”

    —Partner in Lorax – a SF real estate development company who made over 4 Million in revenue last year. According to their website, Kerwin is building the self-dubbed “greenest house in Burlingame.” Looks like the Task Force can help him get subsidies for solar panels and the go ahead for this project’s “unique” materials.

    http://www.loraxdevelopment.com/margarita.htm and
    http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/…

    —Serial media user and self-promoter (usually via Mike Rosenberg – Examiner) who spouts his often varied message du jour

    Aren’t we lucky to have this Burlingame newbie serving his personal agendas with our city’s resources?

  5. i live here

    Is the green ribbon group aware that califonia state law requires tree removal if anyone claims there panels are being shaded? In a city like Burlingame we stand to lose many trees – how ironic that Mike Kerwin wants us to become “green” by removing trees!!
    Hey Mike – go spend your time changing this idiotic california law and stop abusing people who love trees!

  6. Holy Roller

    For once I would like to be the voice of reason.
    Not this time either.
    PS What happened to the reforestation plan on Easton?
    Tom the Tree, and the coming together of the community was very inspiring.
    As things go in “our” times, it is already passe’

  7. Fiona

    A Burlingame tree group has not yet happened so I wish there was a present councilmember who could be the Voice of Burlingame Trees (I can’t believe I said that!) and who in conjunction with Randy and the Beautification Commission would know what is going on with all our trees (including Caltrans).

    The councilmember could keep everyone on their toes!

    Maybe after 2009.

  8. guest

    Also, one of the board members in baykeeper is a manager in Alain Pinel Real Estate.

    Here is a link to the Alain Pinel site with his bio:

    http://www.apr.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?pageid=1070&pagealias=AgentDetail&AgentID=6597

    If you know anyone in Alain Pinel please speak out and tell them that they are working against our community. We should only use reputable real estate agencies that aren’t trying to take us to court and bankrupt our city. Shame on Alain Pinel.

  9. resident

    Does Mike Kerwin live in Burlingame?

  10. Bobbo

    Fiona, YOU should start a tree group. Why not spend less time posting articles to the BV and more time planting trees in Burlingame? You seem passionate about the idea, why are you waiting for someone else to do it? I’ll buy you the shovel.

  11. Fiona

    Dear Boobboo, I don’t have the time and even if I did have the time I am not interested in starting a tree group in this town but I do think a tree group could be an asset to Burlingame. Palo Alto’s Canopy of Trees Group seems to do great things.

    But if you are looking for a (tree) group to join, BB, Mills Canyon is a wonderful place and it is very easy to get involved. You don’t need a shovel -just a little bit of time, you work with a superb group of volunteers who clean up the canyon and you can also enjoy trees and nature at its very best.

  12. Holy Roller

    Hey Boo, the City of Burlingame plants about 300 trees a year.
    The people who live behind those trees rarely take care of them in any way. About 250 newly planted trees die. Call the Park Dept. to check.
    Those are the statistics that should be published.
    What does it cost the City of Burlingame to plant one tree?

  13. guardian

    Does Mike Kerwin, a Baykeeper, live in Burlingame? If you believe what Mike Rosenberg of the Examiner writes, he lives on Margarita Ave. The Sept. 20th article about Mike Kerwin (Eco-friendly builder…) says he “just got approved” to build the first “Greenest Home in Burlingame”. The other article posted on his Lorax website, writen Dec 12th, also by Rosenberg says the project was being appealed by “disgruntled neighbors” because it would block views and “disturb the rhythm of the neighborhood.” Maybe they should have tried harder…
    Sep 20th and Dec 12th article link via Lorax website:
    http://loraxdevelopment.com/margarita.htm

    Check out the Lorax’s website animation for the Margarita house, it looks like it should be called the “Glass Castle in Burlingame” instead of the “Greenest Home in Burlingame.” BTW: Why would a developer advertise what he says in his article to be HIS OWN home? Is he trying to sell it? He sold what he called the “Greenest Home in SF”. Why would this be any different — could it be because “now he has a voice in” OUR “City Hall”? From all those windows on his Glass Castle, I wonder how many birds will be added to the Mike Kerwin Death List? (in addition to all the tress that will perish because they will block solar panels) I guess he figures the birds won’t have any place to live when he’s through with Burlingame anyway, so what’s the problem!
    Margarita Ave link via Lorax website: http://loraxdevelopment.com/margarita.htm

  14. Bobbo

    Fifi, you have missed the point. I am suggesting you be the one to make time to work with Canopy or any other tree group. You are the one that holds this particular passion. If you don’t have time to devote to something your passionate about, how do you expect anyone on council, who are undoubtedly very busy, and who may not share your passion to take up the cause? You have an opportunity to change the way Burlingame cares for it’s trees. No one better to do it than you. And you do have time. All you have to do is stop spending so much time on this website. Your time would be much better served in my opinion giving back to the community in a more meaningful way. I’ll buy the seeds.

  15. another guest

    There is no phone listing for a Mike Kerwin in Burlingame, but there is a phone listing for a Mike Kerwin in San Francisco who works for Lorax. Does that mean there is a Mike Kerwin from San Francisco who is building in Burlingame, having trouble with neighbors in Burlingame, and is working for our city while trying to sue us? Are there any city councilors out there that can shed light on his role with the city?

  16. vistor

    mike is a fine volunteer. do you really want our backyards and basements to be flooded from our toilets? our city is breaking the law like a third world country

  17. citizen

    A volunteer involved in shaking the city down and potentially bankrupting it?

    Is the lawsuit to avoid our backyards and basements being flooded from toilets?

    Are third world countries breaking the law?

    Was the last comment posted by Mike?

  18. Lorne

    REMINDER: Burlingame’s Green Ribbon Task Force will present it’s first comprehensive report to the City Council this Tuesday, Sept 2, 6-7, conference room A, City Hall. Two weeks later, at the September 15 meeting, council will vote on the proposals in this report and on the future role of the GRTF.
    —————–
    Breaking News: The Loma Prieta Chapter of Sierra Club is about to roll out its “Cool Cities Local Government Climate Action Survey 2008”. a comparative study of the actions taken by the cities of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. The study will be publicized next week, but you may see it now at http://lomaprietaglobalwarming.sierraclub.org/survey_results.php
    This study will be included in the materials given to the City Council for Tuesday’s study session.
    —————–
    The Sierra Club surveyed San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and 35 cities in those counties. Both counties and 26 of the cities responded, so the sample space is 28 government entities or jurisdictions.

    Burlingame is AMONG:
    1) The 21 entities that have signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement or Cool Counties agreement.

    2) The 22 entities that have formed committees or task forces to pursue climate protection initiatives.

    3) The 26 entities that have completed (or expect by year’s end to complete) a municipal emissions inventory.

    4) The 22 entities that have policies to encourage transit-oriented growth.

    5) The 16 entities that offer commuter incentives to municipal employees.

    Burlingame LAGS BEHIND:
    1) The 16 entities that have or expect to have (by 12/08) a municipal climate action plan in place by 12/08.

    2) The 9 entities that have or expect to have a community-wide climate action plan in place by 12/08.

    3) The 19 entities that have or will have a procurement policy to favor green vehicle fleets.

    4) The 19 entities that have or plan new incentives or requirements for green building standards based on LEED or Build It Green guidelines. (Breakdown: 14 entities require or plan to require a minimum standard of LEED Silver or LEED-EB on new and/or existing municipal buildings. 10 entities have or plan to have requirements for commercial buildings set at LEED Silver or LEED-EB or better. 11entities have or plan to have incentives or requirements for a Build It Green rating of 50 points or better on residential buildings.)

  19. Anonymous

    Update:
    http://www.theburlingamedailynews.com/article/2008-9-3-bg-climate

  20. visitor

    Build Green – 3105 Margarita Avenue
    See green building for yourself in Burlingame and how city incentives are important to the future of construction. Out with the old, the future is here!

  21. Lorne

    PowerPoint presentation given by the city’s consultant to the Task Force, Kathleen Gallagher, at Monday’s Council study session:

    http://www2.burlingame.org/GREEN/GRTF9-08.ppt

  22. Lorne

    An addition link (cover letter to Council):
    http://www2.burlingame.org/GREEN/SierraclubCoverLetter8-08.htm

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